Disclaimer: I don't own One Tree Hill or its characters

Summary: Haley never would have thought that the death of her brother would have brought this one. She never thought that she would be so grateful to him for this.

Chapter 1: Quiet In My Town

Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives.

Haley James stood next to her mother and father in a long sleeve black dress that stopped just above her knees. She looked around at the people at her brothers funeral and watched their sad faces as they began to lower the casket. She knew that he had touched so many peoples lives and she just couldn't understand, for the life of her, how God could take him away from her and everyone else. She looked up and saw Nathan Scott standing on the other side of the casket. He was her brother's best friend. Had been since they were 5 years old. She saw the sadness written across his face and she watched his sad eyes focus on the casket.

Today I heard that someone left this earth
That someone disappeared left no mark here
Today I heard that someone just got up and left himself
Lying on the ground

He looked up a moment later and her eyes met with his before he quickly glanced away from her again. Soon everyone left the cemetery. Haley knew that the majority of them were going to back to her house. She slowly walked towards the limo that was taking her and her family back to her house. She watched Peyton Sawyer get in a car with her dad and Brooke Davis. Haley hadn't really talked to Peyton in awhile. She knew she should, but part of her couldn't. Haley got in the limo and sat silently on the way to her house.

When they pulled up she saw the large number of cars that were parked in her neighbor hood. Most of the people were already inside or they were walking towards her house. She walked in and saw the looks that everyone gave her as she walked in. They all sort of tilted their heads to the side a bit and sent her a sad smile. She returned it with a nod before walking past them and into the kitchen. She saw her grandparents in the kitchen talking to Karen and Keith Scott. Nathan's parents. She looked around the kitchen and saw Brooke and Peyton who were now there and Lucas Scott, Nathan's brother and Junk, Fergie, Mouth and Skills. They all stood in the kitchen talking. But she didn't see Nathan anywhere.

She thought Nathan, out of all of his friends would be here. She looked around again but she didn't see him. She knew that Nathan was taking Jake's death really hard. When Jake was diagnosed with Leukemia a year before, Nathan was always there for him whenever he needed him. He went with him to doctors appointments and was there when Jake was really sick. When Jake died, Nathan was there with him and Haley. Haley was amazed at the fact that he was strong enough to do that. There were times when she knew she couldn't be there with Jake because it was too hard. But Nathan was always there. Even though she and Nathan didn't really see eye to eye and had never gotten along, she was thankful for him.

Jake needed someone like him.

Today is
Today is
Today is quiet in my town
Today is
Today is
Today is quiet in my town

Haley looked back around the kitchen before walking out to the living room. She looked there for any sight of Nathan but she didn't see him. She shook her head and walked towards the stairs and began to walk up them. She had planned on going straight to her room but instead she stopped in front of Jake's. She grabbed the handle and twisted it slowly. She hadn't been in his room for weeks. Jake hadn't been home due to the fact that he'd been in the hospital for the past few weeks. And she hadn't gone in there since he left. She opened the door slowly and saw Nathan sitting in the chair at Jake's desk. Nathan turned his head quickly and saw her standing in the doorway. "Sorry," she said, "I didn't know you were in here."

Nathan stood up quickly, "it's fine. I'll just go."

"No don't worry about it," she said, then took a step into the room and looked around. It was exactly the way it had been the last time she was in there. "I thought you might have gone home or something," she said a second later, "I mean, when I didn't see you downstairs."

Nathan's eyebrows furrowed and he crossed his arms over his chest. "You think I would just bail?" he asked, "I wouldn't do that. This is for Jake."

"I didn't mean anything Nathan, so don't get so defensive with me."

"Whatever," Nathan mumbled before walking past her and out the door. She heard his footsteps going down the stairs and she walked to the door and shut it. She turned around and sat down on the edge of the bed. She rested her head in her hands before looking up again. She looked towards the corner of his room and saw his guitar propped up against the wall. There were so many nights when she fell asleep to the sound of him playing his guitar. Even after he'd been diagnosed with cancer. It was so comforting to hear him play and now she couldn't imagine what it would be like to not hear him. She turned her head and saw a picture of Jake and Peyton. He had his arms wrapped around her and they both had big smiles on their faces. Jake loved Peyton so much, Haley knew that. And Peyton was one of her best friends and she knew that she loved him just as much.

Today two boys disappeared without noise
and I wish that I was them flying somewhere overhead
And tonight in silence, two lovers hate and find
One is bored
One is angry
but neither one of them is right, oh

Next to that picture was a picture of Jake, Haley, Nathan, Lucas, Brooke and Peyton. It was taken after the Ravens won the state championship the year before. It was right before Jake had been diagnosed. Jake stood between Nathan and Haley with his arms around both of their shoulders. The boys in their uniforms and the girls in theirs. Haley looked at Brooke's face. She stuck her tongue out playfully while Lucas kissed her cheek. Peyton stood on the other side of Haley with her hand resting on Jake's arm. They all looked so happy. Haley wished she could go back and re live that moment. She would re live any moment that had Jake in it. Haley remembered the day that Jake told her he had cancer. That was one moment she could remember being so scared. She had never been more scared then in that moment when he told her.

Haley sat on her bed reading a book for one of her classes. She had heard the garage door open a minute before and she knew that Jake and her mom had just gotten home. Jake had been getting sick lately and her mom decided to take him to the doctor to make sure everything was ok. Haley waited patiently for them to get home. While she was reading there was a knock on her door. "Come in," she yelled to who ever was on the other side. The door opened and Jake walked through. She looked up at him and smiled, "hey, how was the doctor."

"Um," he said and nodded, "you know it's the doctor." "Yeah," she agreed and said, "is everything ok?"

Jake cleared his throat and said, "lets go for a walk? What do you say?" Haley nodded and stood up and grabbed her sweatshirt off the foot of the bed. It said Ravens on the front and on the back had the names of all the girls who were cheering that year. She slipped it on over her head and the two of them walked down the stairs and towards the front door. Jake opened the door for her and she walked out and down the steps of the front porch. Jake followed slowly behind. The started to walk and a comfortable silence enveloped them. Haley looked at her brother and saw the look on his face. It was like he was hiding something from her. "Are you ok?" she asked a moment later. The two of them had walked to a small park near their house and Jake motioned for them to sit on a bench not far away.

Today is
Today is
Today is quiet in my town
Today is
Oh, Today is
Today is quiet in my town

She sat down and waited for him to join her. He sat down next to her and said, "I need to tell you something." She looked at him and he could see the worried expression she wore. He hated the fact that he was already worrying her. "I don't want you to freak out or worry or be scared or anything."

"Well then you shouldn't start a conversation like that then," she said, "what's going on Jake? Just tell me."

Jake let out a sigh and said, "when I was at the doctor, they found something. It's my blood or my bone marrow I don't know. But they diagnosed me with Leukemia, Hales. They say that it's progressed a lot and they're gonna do everything they can to help me." Haley looked away from him and she could feel her heart racing and her body tingling. She felt like she was suddenly short of breath and she gripped the edge of the bench she was sitting on. Jake put his hand on her shoulder but she moved away from him and suddenly stood up. She ran a nervous hand through her hair and looked down at him. "That's not funny Jake. I swear to God if you're joking with me-"

"I'm not."

Oh, somebody say something
Somebody say something
Somebody say something to me
Oh, someday say something
Someday say something
Someday say something cause I can't take this silence anymore
Anymore

Haley could feel the tears stinging her eyes and she bit her bottom lip and took a few steps away from the bench. Jake stood up and walked towards her and gently grabbed her arm. He could feel that she was trying to pull away from him but he pulled her to him. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight against his chest. He could feel her tears soaking into his shirt but he just continued to hold her while she cried. He ran his hand soothingly over her back. "Hales," he whispered a moment later, "I promise you that no matter what happens, everything's gonna be ok." Haley nodded but she wasn't so sure that she believed him just yet. After staying at the park for awhile longer the two of them slowly made their way back to the house. By the time they got back the sun had gone down.

Haley sat on his bed and she could feel the tears start to fall from her eyes. She was crying for the first time in a long time. While everyone else cried at his funeral, the tears didn't come to her eyes. But now sitting here in his room, it really hit her. Jake wasn't coming back. For the first time in a long time, she cried her heart out.

Haley laid in her room in a pair of pajama shorts and one of Jake's old sweatshirts. The light was off and the TV was on and it cast her room in a blue glow. She heard her phone vibrate from the window sill where her phone was in the charger. She got up slowly and walked towards it. She looked down and saw that she had a text from Brooke. All it said was that she needed to come over to Peyton's. She seriously thought about ignoring it but she knew that if she did, Brooke would call or come and get her. Didn't they get that she didn't want to hang out. That was the last thing she wanted. She just wanted to be left alone. She sighed and took her phone out of her charger and walked over to her closet before slipping on a pair of tennis shoes. Whatever it was that they wanted, it must have been important. She walked down the stairs and past her parents who were in the kitchen. She doubted they even would notice that she was leaving.

Nathan walked on to the river court and looked at the chalk on the cement. While Jake was in the hospital people had come to the river court to write him notes and tell him to get better. Even though he probably wouldn't see them, they did it anyway. He saw a large heart with Jake's number 00 in bright chalk. He knew Peyton was the one who drew it there. He walked toward the center of the court and looked down at what was written there. In dark blue chalk was written I love you Jake and no matter what happens, everything will be ok. Love Hales. He could feel a pull on his heart when he read this. Did she know when she wrote this that everything wasn't going to be alright? She had to. But then why would she right something like this. He could hardly stand to look at it. It just made him realize that his best friend was gone.

"Hey Nate," he heard from behind him. He turned his head and saw Skills walk towards him. He wore a pair of dark jeans and plain white t-shirt. He walked to the center of the court and looked down at what Nathan had been looking at. He looked back up and at Nathan and patted his shoulder. "How you holding up?" he asked and Nathan shrugged. Skills pretty much already knew the answer to that question. But he couldn't help but ask anyway. Since Jake had died, Nathan had hardly spoken a word to anyone. Skills knew he wasn't ok. "Do you believe in heaven and God?" Nathan asked a second later.

"I do."

"I just find it hard to believe that there's a God that could take Jake away from everyone like this. Who could let him be so sick." "But he took him so he could be in a better place and he wouldn't hurt anymore. You know that Nathan."

"I don't know anything anymore Skills."

They stood there in silence while they both looked around at what other people had written on the court. They were mostly things like We miss you Jake, or Get well soon. Nathan shook his head and walked over to the picnic table and Skills followed. He knew that Nathan probably didn't feel like talking. But maybe all he needed was a friend to be there for him. That's what he was willing to do for him. Just be there. Just incase he decided he need to talk about it. He knew that it was a long shot, but who knew. The two of them sat in silence both thinking about their friend.

Today is
Today is
Today is quiet in my town
Today is
Today is too quiet in my town

Today I heard the sound of birds and I wish that I was anywhere but here

Haley walked through the door to Peyton's room and saw her and Brooke sitting on her bed. Peyton had tears in her eyes and Haley knew that she was probably just feeling sad about Jake. And she couldn't blame her. She loved Jake with her whole heart. Jake used to talk about Peyton being the one and marrying her some day. Haley had no doubt that if things were different, they would get married. She walked over to the bed and sat down next to Brooke in front of Peyton. Brooke patted Haley's knee and Haley sent her a weak smile. Haley then directed her attention to Peyton. She looked like she'd been crying non stop for hours. There were tear stains on her cheeks and her eyes were red and puffy. "I have to tell you something," Peyton said a moment later and wiped the tears away from her eyes. Haley looked between the two of them and waited for one of them to speak.

"What?" she asked.

"I'm pregnant."

Haley let Peyton's words sink in. She was pregnant. Peyton was pregnant. She was pregnant with Jake's baby. "What? I mean- are you sure?" Haley asked a moment later. Peyton nodded and ran a hand through her hair before more tears began to fall from her eyes. "I don't know what I'm gonna do," she said, "I can't do this without Jake. I mean, I need him Haley. What am I gonna do? How can I raise his baby without him?" Haley was thinking about all of the things that Peyton was saying to her. She had no idea what she would do if she were in Peyton's position. She really didn't have a clue. She would be scared out of her mind.

"You won't raise this baby alone," Brooke said, "we'll be there for you. You know that. And your dad and Jake's parents. And this baby is gonna have a great mom and-"

"And no dad," Peyton cried, "I mean what do I tell my baby when they ask about their dad. What am I gonna say?"

"You're gonna say that he was a super hero. That he was a really great guy with an amazing heart. And that even though he can't be there for him or her, that he loves them with all his heart and that he's always looking out for them. That's what you're going to say," Haley said looking at Peyton. "You're gonna say that because it's true. If he were here, he would want you to say that."

Peyton looked at Haley and nodded, "I'm so scared."

"Like Brooke said, we're gonna be here for you. The whole way."

"Yeah," Brooke said, "this baby is going to have a great life. I know it." Peyton moved towards them and hugged both of them tightly. They both hugged her back and Haley ran her hand over her back soothingly, just like Jake would have done if he was there. All she could think about is what Jake would say to her right now. That everything would be ok. Haley honestly believe that everything would be ok. She knew it would be. It was just going to take time for everything to be ok.

It's too quiet, too quiet
It's too quite, too quiet
It's too quiet
It's too quiet
It's too quiet
It's too quiet
It's too quiet
It's too quiet
It's too quiet
It's too quiet
It's too quiet
in my town, in here, in here, in here,
It's too quite in my town

Today is
Today is
Today is quiet in my town
Today is
Today is too quiet in my town

Around 1 in the morning Haley made it back home. She walked quietly through the hallway to her room. She turned the light on and saw an envelop sitting against her pillow. She knew that most definitely wasn't there when she left and she picked it up looking at the hand writing on the outside. It was Jake's, she would recognize it anywhere. On the front of the envelop it said For Haley and Nathan. She couldn't figure out why it would be for the two of them but she also couldn't figure out how it got there. Maybe her mom put it there after she left. She would have to ask her about it later.

She examined the letter awhile longer before setting it on the bed side table. She wanted to open it now and read whatever was inside but it wasn't just for her. It was for her an d Nathan. Even if she didn't want to, she had to wait until he was with her to open it. She would go over to his house in the morning and show him so they could read it together. She looked at it again and then picked it up. She ran her fingers over the writing. There was no mistaking the fact that Jake had written this. She just didn't know why it was here, now. Maybe he wrote it before he died and told his mom or dad to give it to her. That had to have been it.

She didn't want to over analyze it. All she knew was that Jake had something that she and Nathan needed to read so that's what they were going to do. She put it down again and then got in bed after turning the light out. It was hard for her to fall asleep. All she could do was wait for the sound of his guitar from the other room. But the sound never came.

Today is
Today is
Today is quiet in my town